At the end of each election cycle, we must assess our performance to determine adjustments and reforms needed to create a perfect political process for posterity. The major pressing issue that requires an urgent remedy is to create a climate of political consensus among the ruling elite that is vital to democratic governance. However, the focus of this piece is to draw our attention to Article 80(1)(c) of the Constitution; which states that an individual must have a minimum of formal education of Advanced Level standard or its equivalent to qualify as a Member of Parliament; subsequently referenced for LC chairpersons and the presidency. This requirement is a liability to our country, it goes against democratic principles enshrined in the Constitution, and restricts the pool of quality leaders and impinges on the will of the people in choosing their leaders.
The liability of this provision is evident in the burden it puts on our Judicial system, both in terms of time and resources.
The Judiciary is overburdened with a backlog of cases. However, due to the political urgency of these petitions, they are prioritised at the expense of people languishing in jails awaiting trial. There is a financial implication to government for each successful petition. Resources that could be allocated to other productive areas are diverted to conduct by-elections. As Parliament expands unnecessarily, electoral petitions on academic grounds will continue to increase.
The increasing costs are an important issue but not as fundamental as the violation of democratic principles enshrined in the Constitution.
One of the stated democratic principles that underlie the 1995 Constitution is that all the people of Uganda shall have access to leadership positions at all levels. Article 1 of the Constitution declares that all power belongs to the people and the people shall be governed through their will and consent. The academic provision violates the spirit and principle of access to leadership positions by every Ugandan.
It also undermines the sovereignty and the will of the people when their chosen leaders are denied governance or representation due to a dubious academic requirement. The democratic principles espoused in the Constitution are explicitly violated by the establishment of a fundamental inequality among the people in access to leadership positions.
Uganda has never guaranteed unbridled access to A-Level education to her citizens. This is as true today as it was in 1995 when the Constitution was written. How can we then say that all citizens have access to leadership positions? As long as the foundation is not leveled, the idea that every Ugandan shall have access to leadership positions is not only tenuous but wickedly dishonest.
I assume the intent of the academic requirement, was to ensure competence of legislators in performance of their legislative and oversight duties. However, the performance of our Parliament does not reflect the intent. Our Parliament is synonymous with chronic absenteeism, unethical behaviour characterised by the infamous Shs5 million envelopes and total submission to the Executive.
It is a fallacy to equate academics with quality leadership but it is worse to do so with the ability to speak English. It is the ability to speak English that is commonly advanced as justification for academic requirements for political office. It is an obnoxious colonial mentality that gives many of our elites a false sense of superiority and pride. Accomplished and successful individuals are dragged to court and others disparaged for lack of proper command of English.
We need to demystify the English language so as to refocus on democratic principles, substance and character in our leadership and governance affairs. The country’s scarce resource must be protected and the democratic rights of Ugandans reestablished by the removal of academic requirements for political office. The removal of academic requirements should be done in consort with an expansion of languages that can be used to conduct Parliamentary business.
gonansamugulusi@yahoo.com
0 comments:
Post a Comment